Happy Birthday, America.
A few days ago, I was sorting out stuff in my OLD PERSONAL CRAP box. And there, below my HUNTINGTON LIMOUSINE commemorative wristwatch, beside the putty-encrusted Vulcan ear tip extensions, and right there on top of all of my 80
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Well, here it is, at long last.
I tried many times to push through it, but much of that started to look like a parody of myself — an autopilot essay.
It’s different. As usual, I don’t know if it’s any good, but at least its certainly LONG enough to explain why it took me so long to get a handle on it.
Anyway, Happy 4th to everyone. Even the trolls. And this one, I predict, will be an extra-juicy troll magnet.
Now I must sleep for 22 hours.
Crikey, you’ve been busy. Let this be a lesson: never doubt Bill.
BTW: have you been getting my emails? I’ve recently gone through the process of slogging through my months-long neglected in-box (I know, I’m sorry) and replied to all your messages.
Anyway, now I’ve got the perfect July 4th reading. Thanks, Bill.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
It was all part of your devious plan, wasn’t it?
More later.
Spectacular. What a wonderful present to find today, the 227th birthday of our country!!! Bless you Bill Whittle.
Aiiii! What happened to the end! Working to fix it!
Only a quarter of the way through, and already with the comments!
What’s up with Cheetah’s, Bill?
Couldn’t resist adding those last 1,624 words,eh?
Thanks. Lots to remember and appreciate in this.
How well you take my thoughts and put them into words! Great job!
Nice work Bill, although I think you mention the fat dumb bastard too much. He doesn’t deserve to be mentioned on the same page as your work.
Where in the Mojave were you? I was at Edwards AFB from 87-90 on the MC-130H test program and worked on an antenna test range in Cal City in the early 90′s. A lady I used to work with married a glider guy, I think named Tom, that used to fly out of Tehachapi.
Thanks for the thought, as always.
cheers,
Dick
You know Bill, it is sometimes strange how much we think alike. I posted on Misha’s question about America, and I emphasized that:
Well, a couple of points come to mind:
You da man!
Great minds think alike.
Is there any other place in the world where opportunity is anywhere as near abundant. I fear not.
Congratulations on another superb essay. All 22 pages were eminently worth the wait.
I don’t see how anyone can doubt that the will and drive to succeed are lacking now in America. One look out at Mojave, if you can see past the parked jetliners, with the likes of XCOR and Scaled Composites, drives home the message that we are the greatest innovaters around. There are what, less than ten nations actively putting things in space, less than five putting people in space, and here we have COMPANIES doing so. Not an entity with the resources of millions of people, but an entity with hundreds of people willing to put their lives, money, and time into it.
God, I love this place.
I placed my bod on the line for one career period, and would gladly do so again. The main reason I’ve regretted being so slightly oversized is that it precluded me from military avaition and the space program (&@#$%^*^$*&^#* seated height!).
Fantastic effort, man!
What’s the line I’m looking for? Oh, yeah: We’re not worthy!
Sapper Mike
P.S. One thing though. Perhaps an edit in the beginning to alert the readers that link to the second part of the essay is on the right in your High Altitude area?